Job Summary

A Physical Design Chip Lead (or Full-Chip Physical Design Lead) is a highly experienced VLSI professional who owns the end-to-end digital implementation and tape-out delivery of an entire Integrated Circuit (IC) or System-on-Chip (SoC). This role requires a balance of expert-level technical execution (RTL-to-GDSII) and project leadership to guide execution teams, manage schedule risks, and bridge the gap between architecture and silicon manufacturing.

Key Responsibilities

Job summary: We are seeking a highly technical and execution-driven Physical Design Chip Lead to spearhead the structural design, implementation, and physical sign-off of our next-generation, high-performance SoCs. In this role, you will own the entire full-chip physical design lifecycle—from early architectural feasibility, floorplanning, and synthesis through final GDSII tape-out. You will lead a team of talented physical design engineers, establish sign-off methodologies, and collaborate directly with architects, front-end designers, and foundry partners to deliver best-in-class Power, Performance, and Area (PPA) on advanced process nodes.

Skill Requirements

Drive the execution of the entire hierarchical RTL-to-GDSII physical design flow, including synthesis, floorplanning, place & route (PnR), clock tree synthesis (CTS), timing closure, and physical verification.

- Define the physical implementation strategy, schedule milestones, and allocate resources across block-level and full-chip integration tasks. Identify and mitigate technical or schedule risks early.




- Partner with SoC architects to conduct early feasibility studies. Drive top-level floorplanning, package/bump placement, macro integration, and full-chip Power Distribution Network (PDN) definitions.
- Establish strict sign-off criteria and methodologies for the project across all domains: Static Timing Analysis (STA), Electromigration and IR Drop (EMIR), Low Power Compliance (VCLP/UPF), and Physical Verification (DRC/LVS/ERC).
- Act as the primary engineering bridge between RTL Front-End, Design Verification (DV), DFT, Packaging, Signal/Power Integrity, and external Silicon Foundries.
- Lead the final closure push for the full-chip database, auditing waivers, reviewing engineering change orders (ECOs), and authorizing final tape-out release.
- Guide, mentor, and perform technical reviews for junior and mid-level physical design engineers to elevate the team's technical capabilities

Must Have Skill

SoC

Valuable to Have Skill

Other Requirements

- with a proven track record of leading or co-leading complex full-chip SoC tape-outs.
- Core flow mastery: Synopsys (Fusion Compiler, IC Compiler II, PrimeTime, StarRC, VC LP) or Cadence (Innovus, Tempus, Quantus, Pegasus, Voltus)
- Advanced nodes: Extensive tape-out experience on sub-7nm FinFET or GAA process nodes (e.g., TSMC/Intel/Samsung N5, N3, N2) handling tight design rules and complex multi-patterning layouts.
- advanced clock-tree architectures, hierarchical UPF low-power designs, and chip-package co-design.
- Proficient in TCL/python/Shell

📌 Senior Solution Architect (India)
🏢 HCLTech
📍 India